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Who does Showalter start in the WC game assuming Baltimore doesn't catch NYY? Chen has been the ace of the staff all year but in October 2012 if you have to win one game I'm not sure I don't want Chris Tillman out there.

Who does Showalter start in the WC game assuming Baltimore doesn't catch NYY? Chen has been the ace of the staff all year but in October 2012 if you have to win one game I'm not sure I don't want Chris Tillman out there.

Who will be set up to pitch that game?

If the Orioles are still a game down to the Yankees heading into the last series, it will be very interesting to see how Buck uses his rotation. If the WC standings don't change, they'll be almost a lock to make the Play-In Game (their magic number for a playoff spot would be one) but still have an (outside) shot at the division. Has he given any indicate how he'd play that?

Random question -- does anyone have any insight on Total Zone vs. BIS? B-R lists both, but I guess they use BIS for calculating WAR. I ask because Adam Jones has a really weird split: He's at -18 runs above average according to BIS, but +13 according to Total Zone. I've watched Jones a lot, and while I don't think he's an elite CF, I have a hard time buying the claim that he's 2 wins below average with the glove. UZR has him at -4, which seems more realistic.

Last night's Rangers loss at the Ballpark was in many ways as frustrating a ballgame as Wednesday night's loss, but was more fun to watch. It's always fun to watch Jered Weaver, even though he beats Texas like clockwork these days. And Nelson Cruz and Adrian Beltre put on a demonstration of free-swinging devil-may-care RBI production, even if it was too little, too late.

Steady rain in Arlington this morning with a 100% chance of showers all day long. I think they'll get a game in under miserable conditions, though the little kid in me wants a daytime doubleheader tomorrow :)

I think today is an important day for the AL East. It is probably Boston's best shot at taking a game off the O's (Doubrount v. S. Johnson) while the Yankees have Pettite v. Romero. If Boston steals one and the Yankees win, that would just about end Baltimore's realistic chance at the division. (The Yankees' magic number would be three.)

But if the reverse happens, it's pretty much up for grabs, though I'd still expect the Yankees to take it since I think they're significantly more likely to win two of three (or sweep) their last series than is Baltimore.

Of course, if the steel bar remains welded, that's a fine result for the Yankees--any time you reduce the magic number, it's good--but shifts the pressure towards the Yankees somewhat since Baltimore would seem to be a heavy favorite on Sunday.

Tillman pitched last night, so he'd be on for game 162. Assuming that game is important, you gotta figure he'll take his turn. If it's all settled, he'll throw the next one (be it the play-in or LDS game one). Chen's turn is tomorrow, which lines him up for the wild-card game with the off day.

I think we're going to be seeing more and more parity. Teams are locking up their best young players and will do that even more with the new TV money coming in so the free agent classes are going to get weaker and weaker. Teams are holding onto their prospects a lot more tightly now too, which I'd imagine will only become a bigger trend as it gets harder to buy amateur talent. It'll be interesting to see the ramifications of this over the next few years. Hell, Houston may even be a winning team by 2020.

note also that that last series has a very different complexion if Tampa Bay is already eliminated

Not with old school Joe Maddon at the helm!

It'll be interesting to see the ramifications of this over the next few years.

I hope that one of the ramifications of weak FA classes is that we start seeing some prospect for prospect trades, or at least young player for young player trades -- you know, trade positional surplus to fill positions of need -- just 'cause those are fun to talk about.

Won't oversized contracts given to mediocrities be a good bait for Boras to convince young players not to give up their FA years cheaply?

Yes, the cycle will correct. Either fewer pre-FA stars will sign extensions or the size of the extensions will get so large that poorer teams won't be able to keep all their good players, so the FA classes will be replenished.

Tillman pitched last night, so he'd be on for game 162. Assuming that game is important, you gotta figure he'll take his turn. If it's all settled, he'll throw the next one (be it the play-in or LDS game one). Chen's turn is tomorrow, which lines him up for the wild-card game with the off day.

I'm sure the Os would love to same Tillman for a 163 or wild card game, but I agree that he is starting 162 unless the Os playoff spot and seeding are set in stone. The only way this is really possible is if they've already clinched the division.

Chen is not pitching tomorrow, Saunders is, so he would be lined up to pitch the play-in game. Chen has been getting extra rest whenever possible.

Hammel is the wild card. He's their best pitcher, and he's working his way back. He threw a simulated game yesterday that seemed to go well, so I'm optimistic he'll be back for the playoffs.

I hope that one of the ramifications of weak FA classes is that we start seeing some prospect for prospect trades, or at least young player for young player trades -- you know, trade positional surplus to fill positions of need -- just 'cause those are fun to talk about.

Yes, exactly like Jesus Montero for Michael Pineda. It's been a mutual disappointment so far, but it was fun talking about it, and probably will be again before all is said and done. So I guess I left a word out of my post -- meant to say "some MORE prospect for prospect trades..."

That was a terrible, terrible job by the Yankees. If they don't win the AL East--or even advance pass the Play-In--you could show that for the reason why. I cannot say strongly enough how horrible they were, but it also seems like they've played that game two dozen times this season.

That was a terrible, terrible job by the Yankees. If they don't win the AL East--or even advance pass the Play-In--you could show that for the reason why. I cannot say strongly enough how horrible they were, but it also seems like they've played that game two dozen times this season.

You can't play an important game with Jones in RF and Nunez at SS. Just can't do it.

Jeter has to play SS every day, if Nix isn't available. And Jones has to be shelved. He can't even hit LHP. Might as well play Dickerson and get the good D.

What Brandon Moss giveth, Brandon Moss taketh away. He is truly an absolute disaster on the field - not just in a funny way, today seems like the 4,000th time this month he's made an error leading directly on that play to unearned runs, he is an abjectly terrible defender - but he's been huge with the bat. Maybe, just maybe, he should only DH.